Rearing fly larvae and animals in space for waste recycling and food supplying

ABSTRACT

In the space, the wastes from human, animals and crop can be fully recycled by rearing maggot which will be nourishing feedstuff for feeding animals. These animals and their eggs combines with the crop plants that NASA developed will be varied food for human in space. The water and nutrition leaving in the residues after rearing maggot can be recycled and fertilized by the crop plant again. Rearing maggot and animals combined with crop plants could achieve a self-sufficient food regenerative system from most wastes to enable human to live and work in space-independent of earth-provided food in long term mission.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 10/178,344, filed on Jun. 25, 2002.

REFERENCES CITED

[0002] U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,574 4/1997 Bunch426/641 Only one related US Patent-titled “Fish Food” was found insearching of US Patent from Jan.1974 to Nov.2001. This patent appliesdried fly larvae as fish food to improve the growth, feeding efficiencyor coloration of fish.

[0003] Other Publications:

[0004] (1) Calvert c. c, et al, Poult.Sci,1970,49:588-589 “Houseflylarvae biodegradation of hen excreta to useful products.”

[0005] (2) Miller, B. F., et al, Br.poult,Sic. 1974, 15:231-234“Digestion of poultry manure by Musca demestica.”

[0006] (3) Teotia J. S, et al, Br.Poult.Sci. 1974,15:177-182 “Nutritivecontent of fly pupae and mature residue.”

[0007] (4) Pickens L. G., J. Med Entomd,1983,20(5):572-573 “A new larvaldiet for Musca domestica”

[0008] (5) Morgan N. O, etal,Isracl J.Entomd 1975,10:13-81 “Fly proteinproduction from mechanically mixed Animal waste.”

[0009] (6) Newton G. L. et al, J.Anim.Sci:1977,44: 395-400 “DrideHermetia Illucens larvae meal as a Supplement for Swine”

[0010] (7) Bondari, K., Aquaculture 1981,24:103. “Soldier fiy larvae asfeed in commercial fish Production.”

[0011] (8) Bbondari K, et al, Aquaculture and Fisheries Management.1987,18:209-220 “Soldier fly, Hermetia illucens Larvae as feed forchannel Catfish, Ictalurus Puctatus (Rafinesque) and blue tilapia,Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner).”

[0012] (9) Sheppard, D. C. Feedstuffs, 1999,71(50):21 “Black soldier flymay produce nutritious feedstuff.”

[0013] (10) Sheppard, D. C. Environ.Entomol.1983,12:1439-1442 “House flyand lesser house fly control utilizing the Black Soldier fly in manuremanagement systems for caged laying hens.

[0014] (11) Sheppard. D. C., J.Med.Entomol.,2002,39(4):695-698 “RearingMethods for the Black Soldier Fly (Diptera:Stratiomyidae).

[0015] (12) Lorimar, J, et al., June 2001 “Manure ManagementStrategies/Technologies white paper.” Written under the auspices of theNational Center for Manure and Animal Waste. Management,Midwest PlanService,Iowa State University Ames.

[0016] (13) Hogsette, J. A. Econ. Entomol.,1992,85:2291-2294 “New dietsfor production of house flies and stable flies (Diptera:Muscidae) in thelaboratory.

[0017] (14) Lynch D. V, et al. Cryobiol., 1989, (26): 445-452 “ATwo-Step Method for Permeabilization of Drosophila Eggs.”

[0018] (15) Mazur P., et al. Cryobiol., 1993, (30): 45-73 “Contributionsof cooling and warming rate and developmental stage to the survival ofDrosophila embryos cooled to −205° C.”

[0019] (16) Wang Darui et al, Entomological Knowledge 1991 (4): 247-249“Analysis and utilizing of the Nutritional Contains of Housefly Larvae.”

[0020] (17) Zhang Zhe sheng, et al, Science and Technology of FoodIndustry 1997 (6): 67-69 “Exploration House Fly Larvae as a PotentialFood Protein Resource for Human.”

[0021] (18) Li Guanghong, et al, Entomological Knowledge, 1997 34 (6):347-349 “Nutritional evaluation of extracted Housefly Protein.”

[0022] (19) Barmard D. R et al, J.Econ Entomol,1992.85 (4): 1213-1217“Growth and Survival of House Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in Response toSelected Physical and Chemical Properties of Poultry Manure.”.

[0023] (20) Zhang Tingjun, Helongjiang Education Press. 1999.11.Beijing, “Exploitation of Housefly Larvae.” Animal Research Institute,China Science Academy.

[0024] (21) Ren Guodong, et al, Entomological Knowledge, 2002 39(2):103-106 “Factory Production and its development Future for House Flies.”

[0025] (22) Wei Yongping et al, China Agriculture Press. Beijing, August2001. “Raising of Economic Insects and Its Exploitation.”

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0026] Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

[0027] Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0028] (1) Field of the Invention

[0029] A method of waste recycling for food regeneration in the space.

[0030] (2) Background Art:

[0031] The scientists in many countries, like China, USSR, USA, Mexico,Eastern Europe, Israel, Australia and Central and South America havestudied for rearing maggot in manure digestion, to convert residualprotein and other nutrients in animal manures to high quality maggotbiomass as animal feedstuff. (reference 1˜13). In U.S. Pat. No.5,618,574, Bunch discloses to apply dried fly larvae as fish food toimprove the growth, feeding efficiency or coloration of fish.

[0032] There are no any other discloses about using maggot to recyclehuman wastes and other wastes in the space, the maggot can be theanimal's feedstuff, and the animals will be human's food in the space sofar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0033] In this invention we propose rearing one of the maggot-houseflylarvae (HFL) as space food source besides crop plants for wasterecycling and food production in long term mission. HFL have greatvitality and seldom get disease. They can be easily reared with smallvolume of containers where HFL and foodstuff could closely touch inmicrogravity under controlled constant temperature and humidity withoutmuch care. The feedstuff are composed by mixing of the human/animalwastes (faces, urine; animal dejecta and leftover bits) and cast-offcrop (such as wheat bran, bean dregs). The crop is also cultivated asthe space food by NASA. Thus the feedstuff nutrition from bothhuman/animals wastes and crop waste can be all recycled to achieve thegoal of efficiently producing nourishing HFL. The HFL will be the foodsource for feeding animals. The water and nutrition left in the residuesafter rearing HFL can be recycled and fertilized the crop plant again.Besides, current self-supported space food—the crop plant, such aswheat, potato, bean mainly offer most calories and plant proteinnecessary for human body. They can not offer some other adequatenutrients such as animal protein, fatty acids, amino acids and so on.HFL body consists of rich protein, 18 kinds of amino acids (thereinto 10kinds are necessary to human body), fatty acids and many kinds ofvitamins, minerals, electrolytes. The alive HFL and the powder of HFLwill be the ideal feedstuff for animals, such as the poultry, aquatics,amphibian and livestock. These animal bodies combined with their eggswill be varied ideal food—they are all meat diets for human in thespace. Fly eggs have very strong reproduction and growth ability.

[0034] Their reproduction and growth cycle are very short. They usuallyget mature in 4 days after being hatched, and their weight increase by250˜300 times. The frozen maggot eggs have long life and keep with theirreproduction ability. For 5 crew in 10 years mission, around 25 kg flyeggs could be brought from earth at the beginning for food sourcewithout delivery again. Rearing maggot and animals combined with cropplants in the space would be a regenerative integrated system with closeloops of food, water, air recovery from most wastes. The operations ofrearing maggot are all under the restrictions of minimum volume, mass,energy and labor. It is an efficient, reliable and effectivebioregenerative system in long term mission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0035] Not applicable.

[0036] Sequence Listing:

[0037] Not applicable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The current problem and way of solving the problem:

[0039] Up to date, all crewed space missions were short-term and in lowearth orbit. They have relied on food resupply from earth. The wasteshave to be discarded or stored after returning to earth. But for futurelong-term mission and permanent planetary bases on such as moon andMars, the earth supplying mode will become impossible. The recovery andrecycling of nutrients from wastes to support food production have to bedone in space, however, current technology cannot support this goal. TheNASA's crop plant-based bioregenerative systems provide only a fractionof the total waste recycling (mainly CO₂ and gray water) and foodrequirement, it also requires high level of light energy for maximumphotosynthesis, large growing area and long growing period. So currentNASA's Advanced Life Support technology cannot provide life supportfunctions for long term human exploration in a cost-effective manner.

[0040] Here we propose rearing one of the maggot-housefly larvae asspace food source besides crop plants for waste recycling and foodproduction in long term mission.

[0041] As we know, the maggot readily feed on fresh manure, to convertresidual protein and other nutrients in to biomass, which is a highquality animal feedstuff with rich protein and other nutrients. The flyeggs can be offered with minimum capacity in long term mission byfreezing them in liquid nitrogen, and can be hatched and reared bywarming them any time. Maggot is fly larvae (FL), the scientific name ofhousefly (HF) is Musca Domestica. We select Housefly Larvae (HFL) asfirst candidate in our invention, this is because, HFL have strongreproduction ability, short life cycle, seldom get disease, and areeasily reared in high density, high efficiency without much care. It iswell known by a great deal studies, HFL have the ability to flourish invirtually any animal manure (certainly human manure too). They canconvert these waste to high quality nourishing animal feedstuff withoutpoison. The equipment and operation for them are simple. Also, feeding,processing, storage of HFL, and using HFL as feedstuff for variedanimals are all the mature technique on the ground. It may easier totransfer to space usage with less time and investment. We do not selectHF pupae as first candidate even if pupae contain rich nutrition too andwith the preferable stage for easy harvest. The reason is loss ofbiomass in pupal development. Pupae are about half weight of the maturemaggot and more chitinous exoskeleton of the adult may reduce nutrientavailability. HF has fabulous reproduction speed. A couple of HF canproduce around 1000 eggs during its reproduction period (12-15 days).Theoretically, 1000 eggs can reproduce 200 billion adult HFL within fourmonths. 200 billion HFL contain more than 600 ton pure protein. The eggusually takes 4 days to become mature HFL and 10 days to fly. It hasshort and speedy reproduction period with high output. The weight of oneHF egg is around 0.08 mg (one gram of HF eggs contains 12000-14000eggs)[20], the weight of one adult maggot will be 20˜30 mg, which is250˜350 times after being reared for 4 days. It is second for none toproduce animal protein so far. Moreover, rearing HFL in the darkness andaeration room with temperatures of 25-28° C. and comparative humidity60-80%, can reproduce continuously generation by generation. HFL arelight avoiding insects, so they should be reared in dark containerinstead of in light for plants photosynthesis.

[0042] Nutrition Content of HFL

[0043] The data indicating below is from four national academicinstitutes in China.[16],[17], [18], [22].

[0044] The Analysis Results of HFL's Nutrition

[0045] The HFL powder is dried from fresh HFL. Its weight is around ⅓ offresh HFL. HFL powder contains 54-63% of protein which is more than thatof fishmeal powder. The fat accounts for 11-17% with similar composingof plant oil or fish liver oil. Amino acids are well combined with 9kinds essential amino acids for human. The total amount of essentialamino acids crucial to human lives is 2.3 times that of fishmeal, thestorage of lysine, methionine and phenylalanine are 2.6, 2.7 and 2.9times that of fishmeal respectively. Two of the essential amino acids,lysine and tryptophan, are poorly in most plant proteins. The essentialamino acids account for 43˜47%(E %), is more than the referencedstandard (40%) issued by FAO/WHO. Essential amino acids/non-essential(E/N) is 0.70-0.89, which is much more than the referenced standard(60%) issued by FAO/WHO[20]. HFL powder contains rich K, Na, Ca, Mg, Pand a lot of trace elements necessary for human such as Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu,B, P, Gr, Co, Al, Si, etc,. also contains sufficient vitamin A, D and B.The content of vitamin D is similar with fish-liver. It especiallycontains rich B₁ and B₁₂ that are insufficient in the crop. B₁ and B₂are respectively 15 and 1800 times that of milk [21]. TABLE 1 Nutritioncontents of HFL powder, HFL protein powder and fishmeal (%) Data FromRef. HFL powder HFL protein powder Fishmeal Content [22] [18] [17] [18][16] Protein 60.88 54.47 62.70 73.03 38.6-61.6  Carbohydrate 12.04 02.80 Fat 17.1 11.60 11.20 23.10 1.2 Gross Fiber 5.70 0 19.41 Ash Content9.2 11.43 10.42 1.83 20 Moisture 5.80 5.10 3.34 11.40-13.50 ContentChitin 3.97

[0046] TABLE 2 HFL Fatty acid Contains of Fatty acid (g/100 g) Data FromRef. (17) Myristic acid 2.2 Linoleic acid 32.5 Palmitic acid 19.7Linolenic acid 3.3 Stearic acid 2.3 Saturated fatty acid 27.4Palmitoleic acid 12.7 Unsaturated fatty acid 68.2 Oleic acid 18.2Essential fatty acid 36.0

[0047] The above table indicate non-saturated fatty acid of HFL powderaccount for 68.2% of total amount of fatty acid. Thereinto essentialfatty acid account for 36% (Mainly Linoleic acid). Plant oil containsmuch more Linoleic and Linolenic acid with richer nutrition than thoseof animal. HFL belong to animality, but it contains much more essentialfatty acid than peanut oil and vegetable seed oil. TABLE 3 Amino Acidsof HFL powder, HFL Protein powder and fishmeal (%) Data From Ref. No.[22] [18] [16] [17] [18] [16] Amino Acid HFL HFL protein FishmealAspartic acid 5.4 6.18 9.58 7.60 2.85 Threonine* 2.30 2.39 2.03 4.593.17 1.15 Serine 1.83 1.58 4.03 2.57 1.34 Glutamic acid 8.91 8.20 15.0610.67 5.34 Glycine 2.36 3.84 4.55 2.67 3.27 Alanine 3.64 2.49 6.10 3.212.28 Cystine* 0.43 0.31 0.67 1.17 0.50 0.23 Valine* 2.76 2.87 3.23 5.053.71 1.58 Methionine* 1.49 1.26 1.25 2.42 2.27 0.46 Isoleucine* 2.343.10 2.54 4.21 3.98 1.09 Leucine* 3.57 3.85 4.05 6.92 5.68 2.07 Tyrosine4.30 3.24 3.22 6.15 5.27 1.37 Phenylalanine* 4.32 3.08 3.51 5.74 4.871.19 Lysine* 4.30 4.45 4.30 9.32 4.97 1.64 Arginine 2.18 3.70 5.23 3.882.31 Histidine 1.27 1.96 2.91 1.59 0.70 Proline 2.19 4.16 4.08 2.34 2.79Tryptophan* 0.78 1.10 E 27.59 24.65 24.80 46.67 34.42 10.78 N 27.6832.47 51.54 34.62 21.29 E + N 52.33 57.27 98.21 69.04 32.07 E % 47 43 4849 34 E/N 0.89 0.76 0.90 0.99 0.50

[0048] TABLE 4 Analysis Result of Several Minerals and Trace Elements inHFL Powder Mine and elements (PPM) Data From Ref. [16] K 71.72 Zn 4.40Na 20.00 Fe 2.33 Mg 26.97 Mn 1.98 Ca 34.12 Cu 0.29 P 62.35 B 0.19

[0049] TABLE 5 Analysis Result of Vitamin Content in HFLs Contains ofVitamin (mg/100 g) Data From Ref. [7] K 0.35 B1 12.85 A 1.17 B2 28.86 D1.08 B6 7.83 E 0.45 B12 188.04

[0050] Storage of HF eggs and HFL food in space:

[0051] 1. Cryopreservation of Fly Eggs in Long Duration Mission.

[0052] Our invention is to gain nutrient food for the crew by rearingHFL and feeding animals in space. Here we propose the brief operation inspace by the section of egg to HFL in normal rearing operation. Thatmeans only rearing HFL in stead of fly in the space. Because in space torear HF will take more room and labor. Therefore there is a need tobring adequate fly eggs from earth for food source storage in long termmission. Fly eggs could become HFL after being hatched. HFL get maturein 4 days and could be animal feedstuff by living HFL or HFL powder.

[0053] This concerns technology of frozen HF eggs storage in long termmission to by keeping their strong reproduction and growth ability. With10 more years research, currently Drosophila (Fruit Fly) eggs could behatched successfully after reserving under liquid nitrogen. Drosophilaegg could grow to fly and keep its reproduction ability. Lynch ofCornell University reported, they can reach 75˜90% high hatch rate [14].and Mazur, hatch rate can reach 70˜80%[15]. Insect eggs can be recoveredby storing in liquid nitrogen with unlimited term as long as keeping eggcase in proper permeability before being frozen and controlling warmingrate.

[0054] Therefore we suppose HF can reach high hatching rate as well asDrosophila because they are all flies.

[0055] 2. Amount of HF Eggs for Storage in Long Duration Mission

[0056] We can bring enough frozen HFL eggs in space while eggs are smallsize, light weight and easy storage in freeze. They can maintain theirreproduction and growth ability in freeze for several decades or hundredyears, just as human semen could live that long in freeze. According toour calculation, for every day, each astronaut needs 400 g fresh HFL,which is equivalent to 130 g HFL powder. It contains around 80 g protein(see Table 1), that meets the daily protein need of an adult. There is aneed of around 6 gram egg for raising 1.6 kg HFL in 4 days and around0.5 kg egg for one year. Thus for 5 astronauts in 10 years durationmission, it needs to bring around 25 kg egg from earth. It is anacceptable loading weight in space for food resource in several decades.

[0057] 3. Storage of Food and Food Source in Space

[0058] In this food bioregenerative system, as the food (HFL and thefeeding animals) is daily produced in space locally, the food storagebecomes simple. It is envisioned that these food sources can be usuallyreproduced by themselves in the space too.

[0059] There are two kinds of storage, one is for the storage of thoseanimality foods (animal meat and eggs) and maggot powder. It is the sameas on ground for common frozen storage. Another is for those food sourcestorage, such as fly eggs, animal eggs, oosperm and placenta. They canbe frozen in liquid nitrogen for cryopreservation in long duration. Thetechnology of frozen storage, and re-warm them in keeping of theirstrong reproduction and fast growth ability has been basically solved onground.

[0060] These food sources have long life by storing in liquid nitrogen.Theoretically they can be stored with unlimited term and can recoverfrom thaw. There is no need of much care about these food sources duringthe long-term freeze. They can be taken and unfrozen easily at any time.

[0061] HFL Rearing and Waste Recycling in Space

[0062] The feedstuff for HFL in space is very simple, mainly using humanand animal wastes (manure), inedible parts of space animal bodies andcrop. HFL readily feed on fresh human waste as its feedstuff, this isbecause the human waste contains rich nutrition. Most nutrients from allthese wastes can be back to crew by taking the food from animals whichare fed by HFL.

[0063] The residues after rearing HFL is odorless and can be used bycrop plant as high grade fertilizer. [2][5][20].

[0064] 1, The formulation of feedstuff for HFL (weight percent of thefeedstuff), is varied on different animals: Fresh human waste (feces andurine) and Fresh animal waste (manure and animal body residues): 85˜90%Residues of space crop (wheat bran, bean dregs, and pieces of cropstalk/leaf): 10˜15%.

[0065] 2, Processing of the Feedstuff before Feeding:

[0066] Mixing of above composition in a closed container, humidity ofthe feedstuff in range of 70%±5% (adjusting by the volume of the urine),temperature in 25-30° C., keeping the feedstuff as fresh as possible.

[0067] 3, Transplanting of the HF Egg on the Surface of the Feedstuff:

[0068] The HFL eggs are token from liquid nitrogen container in ultralow frozen storage, and then warmed for hatching. For suitable densityof feeding HFL, 1 kg feedstuff match with 1.0˜1.5 gram FL eggs.

[0069] 4, The Conditions for Rearing:

[0070] There are a serial numbers of same containers for rearing HFL.The number depends on the output needs of the HFL. The containers areall closed for odor control. In the containers: the temperature is 28±2°C., the humidity is 70±5%. Installing aeration pipe in both the upperand middle layer for good aeration and oxygen offering, and keeping theaeration speed with 1 grade. The odor flowing in the aeration pipe willbe filtrated by the deodorizer. Stirring the feedstuff once a day foravoiding the over hot and short of oxygen internally after placing flyeggs in the feedstuff. Before rearing, the feedstuff and containersshould be placed in microwave oven for bactericidal processing. Insideof container be kept in dark with darkness 12:12.

[0071] 5, The structure of container and rearing procedure:

[0072] Each container volume is 40×40×12 CM³ It is much smaller thanthat on earth. Because in status of microgravity, HFL and feedstuff haveto closely touch in order to keep feeding all the time. Usually, 1 kgmature FHL can be produced within one rearing cycle of 3˜3.5 days foreach container. The container is divided by three layers with thicknessof 8 cm and 2 cm and 2 cm respectively. The upper layer is 8 cm thickfor HFL rearing only. It is full of feedstuff. The middle layer withthickness of 2 cm contains wet wheat bran or bean dregs fordecontaminating the viscera of the HFL after 3 days rearing. The lowerlayer with thickness of 2 cm contains wet wood bits or silver sand formaking the mature HFL hungry, collecting and cleaning the mature HFL.There are two mesh screens between the three layers. The HFL skin can becleaned while it goes through the tight screen opening.

[0073] The HFL can be driven to middle and lower layers by stronglighting on the surface of the layer and stay in both of the layers for3˜4 hours respectively, then can be collected in lower layer after 3.5days of rearing. Do not take 4 days as the collecting time, this is ofconsideration of the maximum biomass harvest of the HFL to prevent anyHFL from becoming pupa. After rearing HFL, all the residue which consistof the water and useful contents can be recycled as fertilizer for spacecrop plants.

[0074] Rearing HF in Space.

[0075] The fly rearing and reproduction could be a standby way forsudden case in long term mission. Moreover, it is easier to rear HFLthan HF in space, so a great deal of breeding space, labor and expensefor rearing fly can be saved. In normal situation there is no need torear HF in long term mission because the problem of storage of HF eggshas been solved. But in contingency of losing some eggs, the crew haveto rear HF for complement of losing eggs. Therefore the technology ofrearing HF should be reserved. Rearing HF in space shall be as followingpoints

[0076] 1, Rearing quantity and density:. The rearing density of HFL onthe ground in large scale is 40000-60000/m3, but in space the crew onlyneed to rear a small number of flies for egg collection only, to rearfly in the cage with size of 40×40×40 cm3. It is closed, the four sideof cage walls are all with mesh for aeration. For one fly, its minimumactive range is 10 cm3, so 3000 couple of flies can be reared in onecage.

[0077] In this cage, 13˜15 gram eggs can be laid every day.(600 eggs canbe laid by one couple flies within 10 days, one gram eggs contain12000-14000 eggs, so 3000 couple flies can lay 13˜15 gram per day). Itis enough for food source needs of 9˜10 crew every day. (one crew need1.5 gram fly eggs as the daily food source)

[0078] 2, Feedstuff:

[0079] The feedstuff of ovipositing HF is required better than that ofHFL, because HF likes eating HFL paste (smash live HFL into paste), andfortunately, the HFL paste could be easily self-sufficient in space. Theformula of the feedstuff for HF in space contains:70% of HFL paste and30% of wheat bran or bean dregs.:

[0080] 3, Approach of Rearing FL in Space:

[0081] Rearing HFL is the same as the above mentioned. Before HFL reachmature, usually they take 4 day of rearing. The HFL are all in the lowerlayer of the rearing container with wood bits for pupating, temperaturewithin 24˜32° C., humidity 60˜70%, kept in dark and aeration speed of0.5˜1.0 grade. Choose the pupa whose weight is more than 18 mg as theseed. Pupa will have eclosion after 5-7 days, while HF can oviposit 3days after eclosion and ovipositing period is 30 days or so. As a rule,HF will be killed after 15 days ovipositing and stop getting eggs forassuring the egg quality.

[0082] Rearing temperature in HF rearing cage is 28˜30° C., humidity is60˜70%. The feedstuff for rearing HFL is supplied with a small feedstuffbox in the cage, including absorbed water sponge, feedstuff sponge andlured ovipositing sponge (the sponge absorbs water and feedstuff toprevent the water and feedstuff from floating off under themicrogravity). In addition to fresh human faces as ovipositing luredmatter paste on, the feedstuff is the same to be applied on the luredovipositing sponge, which can be put into 3 days after eclosion of pupa,at intervals of 12 hours. These three sponges should be alternated andthe HF eggs could be collected once every morning and afternoon. Therearing cage needs to be sterilized with ultraviolet ray before rearing,HF pupa comes to eclosion after being disinfected by using potassiumpermanganate.

[0083] Rearing HF needs lighting, the longer time of lighting, morebenefit for FL growth and ovipositing.

[0084] Processing of HFL Powder

[0085] 1) Steps: Collecting FreshHFL→Cleaning→Drying→Grinding→bactericidal procedure→Collectingpowder→Package→Storage

[0086] 2) Drying: Microwave under 80° C.

[0087] 3) Drying within 6 hours after collecting HFL to prevent freshHFL from becoming pupa.

[0088] 4) The HFL powder can be stored in freeze for long termpreservation.

[0089] Application of HFL as Feedstuff for Animals:

[0090] Due to the rich protein and other nutrition HFL contain, applyingHFL as feedstuff offers good animal protein and other rich nutrients topoultry, livestock and aquatics to achieve large rate of reproductionand survive. It was proved by many countries in theworld.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][10][12][19][20].

[0091] As the intake ratio of hens fed by feedstuffs is about 30%, agreat deal of nutrition are left in the hen's manure. HFL can recyclethe nutrition from manure. Experiment points, the HFL were reared bymanure from three hens, It can meet the nutrition demand of two hens[22]. Thus only one hen's feedstuff can sustain three hens. This is thebest proven example for HFL fed by manure. The method can not only savefeedstuffs, but also assure of good health.

[0092] Feeding Animals by HFL in the Space:

[0093] The proportionate nutrients of HFL powder are of free ofpathogens and toxicity with quite mild taste. From its nutritive valueand special health-keeping function, it should be ideal food for humanin space. This is the most simple food chain in recycling of the wastein space. But in fact, people's cultural barriers and eating habits makethemselves rather difficult to accept insect as food, not to say HFL,the dirty insects with human waste as their food, in such an inclementenvironment of space. Therefore, in our design, the first key step wehave to complete is to convert all the wastes from human, animals andspace crop efficiently into HFL. The second step is to take HFL asanimal feedstuff. These animals and their eggs are looked upon as humanfood. In this way, the HFL and animals will be the medium loops betweenthe human food and wastes. Their function is to recycle wastes to behuman food. Thus, a closed food chain, food to waste to food can becompleted with HFL and feeding animals. The embarrassment of taking HFLas the human diet can be avoided. HFL as the animal food and animals asthe human food can be easily acceptable.

[0094] The animals of poultry, aquatics, amphibian and livestock aresuccessfully fed by maggot both in farms and labs.[1]˜[13].

[0095] In this invention, we recommend the partridge, tilapia andAmerica bullfrog as the first candidates for space testing animals, (theswine may be the future candidate). The reason to choose theabove-mentioned three kinds of animals as the space feeding animals is,that they have common grounds as follows:

[0096] (1) Their feedstuff all can be self-sufficient in the space. Thedelighted feedstuff of all of them is living HFL and HFL powder, andother accessorial feedstuff is inedible crop (wheat bran, bean dreg andso on), these animals puerile stage, can all be fed with HFL poweradding inedible crop, then can be fed with adding living HFL after theygrow up.

[0097] (2) These animals are successfully fed on the earth by feedingmaggot who convert the nutrients from animal waste. These feeding testsutilized chicks[12],pigs [6], Catfish and tilapia [7][8], frogs [12],and the partridge (We just done in June of 2003)

[0098] (3) They all had primary space hatching and feeding experiments,though these experiments are merely zoology experiments undermicrogravity, whose aim is not to feed them as food. However, they alsodemonstrate that feeding them in the space is feasible:

[0099] In February,1999, 37 little partridges have been hatched out from60 partridge eggs by the crew in Russian Peace ISS. Even though in thebad environment of strong radiant of the space, yet 10 were alive.Embryology study of South African Frog in US STS-47 Space Shuttle showsthe eggs laid by the frog in the space. Those eggs were all hatched outto little polliwogs. Experiments with fish and spawn are madesuccessfully as well.

[0100] Another significant advantage of feeding aquatic animals is thatthey originally live in the water which is similar to the microgravityenvironment of the space. Therefore, their zoology in the space,especially taking food and reproduction in water, will be the same as onthe earth and not affected by microgravity. FHL can survive for over 24to 48 hours on the water surface[20]. So it is convenient for theaquatic animals to eat active FHL in the water as on the globe.

[0101] The water is basic source for survival of humans and animals inspace. Fortunately, there is information indicating apparent presence ofice in permanently shaded area at the south pole of the Moon. Also wateris known to exist on the polar ice caps and below the surface of theMars. Once these water resource can be exploited, it is easily to rearvaried aquatic animals in large scale by feeding maggot on theseplanets.

[0102] (4) The eggs of these animals can be brought from earth and bestored in liquid nitrogen for long term cryopreservation, just the sameas the fly eggs, then can be hatched after re-warm. However, they canreproduce by themselves in the space.

[0103] (5) These animals have small size body, fast growth and shortmature term, high rate of oviposition, can be densely reared, are strongin anti-illness and adaptation. Its meat is all high protein food withlow fat and low cholesterin, easy for digesting with good taste. As forexample of partridge, its ovipositing term will be 35-45 days afterhatching. The rate of oviposition is higher then 80%, weight rate ofegg/body is 2.5˜2.7 times higher than that of chicken. Small capacity ofdiet, the weight rate of diet/egg is 3. Prefer to eat maggot. The maggotprefers to eat the partridge manure. In our 60 partridge feeding testwith HFL, the daily manure of two adult men and 60 partridges, withadding 10% manure weight of wheat bran as the feedstuff for rearing HFLfrom 2.5 gram of HF eggs, can harvest around 600 g fresh HFL every day.The partridge average weight increases 13% by feeding daily diet withliving HFL (10 g HFL+25 g normal feedstuff) compared with control groupwith normal diet (40 g normal feedstuff) within 27 days feeding period.Same as the tilapia, its mature term is very short, can be token as foodafter hatching 2˜3 months, can oviposit and hatching by themselves withhigh rate while being fed in closed water tank without much care.

[0104] (6) The technologies for rearing these animals on the ground aremature and well known.

[0105] The Safety of the HFL and RFL Powder:

[0106] (1) Pathogen Free of the HFL and HFL powder:

[0107] HFL has special immunity ability for resisting bacteria. Theirbody contains many kinds of active protein for resisting bacteriagreatly. That is far greater than penicillin [22].

[0108] Bacteriological interactions associated with manure digestion bymaggots are favorable. Maggots are competitors with bacteria fornutrients and often reduce bacterial numbers, to eliminate themaltogether. Maggot may consume and digest microorganism, and produceantibacterial and/or fungicidal compounds. Numerous studies using dried,rendered and fresh maggot as animal feed have revealed no healthproblems resulting from this practice. Culturing of self-collectedsoldier fly prepupae from a recent swine trail revealed nopathogen.[12].

[0109] Reference [17] pointed, assays on 100 g HFL powder from abovementioned processing steps, colic bacillus and pathogen are all free,the total bacteria number is lower than standard milk powder. It showsthat this HFL powder as human food is edible.

[0110] To assume of rearing FHL in space, the eggs are fromcryopreservation; the feedstuff and rearing containers can bedisinfected in advance; the processing of the HFL powder is underbactericidal procedure. So the HFL and HFL powder can be assumedpathogen free.

[0111] (2) Without Poison:

[0112] References[16][17][18][22]offer data for analysing ingredients ofHFL powder and prove HFL powder is rich protein food without any poison.

[0113] Ideal Fertilizer for Space Crop—the Residues after Rearing HFL:

[0114] In our experiment, the wastes (35% fresh human dejection+55%partridge manure and +10% wheat bran) were Digested by HFL so fast. Theodor from the waste is almost free after one day rearing. The residualwaste is Reduced 57% after 3 days rearing.

[0115] Miller etc.[2] reported, after HFL digesting of the hen manure,the residue still contains 15% protein. It can be used as the good soilimproving agent or fertilizer. 80% organism material of the hen manureis converted by HFL, loses about half of moisture, dry matter and totalweight at the same time, but only the ash keeps same.

[0116] Teotia etc.[3] reported, after HFL digesting of the hen manure,the residue contains 17.62 protein, nitrogen reduction from 7.5% to2.6%,the phosphorus reduction from 3.4% to 1.8%. Sheppard reported[10][9], that their manure management system using black soldier fly canreduces residual manure by 50%, including a 24% reduction in nitrogenconcentration within this 50% residual manure, resulting in totalnitrogen reduction of 62%. More recently, he suggested higher rate ofnitrogen removal is possible, as is a significant reduction inphosphorus. It is evident that nitrogen and phosphorous removal asmaggot biomass will be a significant benefit in nutrient management.

[0117] The Moscow Biology Medical Research Institute reported, themanure residues after HFL digesting, is a kind of humic matter with noinfective pathogen. Use it as fertilizer for tomato, cucumber, blackmushrooms etc., can get the high rate of production and good quality[20]. Morgan& Eby [5] reported, using HFL can convert 100 Kg of freshhen manure or cow manure to 2˜3 Kg protein feedstuff, can also produce50˜60 kg dry and odorless soil improving agent. As maggots can reducepathogens in human/animal waste, they may make it safer for organicvegetable production.[12]

[0118] The Other Function of Maggot Powder:

[0119] Due to lack of protection of earth aerosphere and magnetic fieldin space, there are obvious harms on the human body by varied strongspace radiation while human living in the space, such as the reductionof the white cell and immune cell, causing cancer and hurt of thefertility ability etc. To resist of the harms from space radiation isthe important research program in NASA and many countries in the world,but there is no effective way yet.

[0120] The tests have proved, taking the maggot powder as healthy food,can improve the ability of resisting radiation and immune functionwhether for animals or human body. For the patients under treatment ofradiation or chemical, the reduction of white cells and immune cellsobviously slows down, the hair lost is apparently decreasing. It is notsure what is the effective ingredient for these functions in maggotbody, but there is a quite important clinical signification for humanliving in the space or on the earth. The crop or animal internal organscould be feedstuff for rearing maggot on the earth or in the space, someherbal medicine and other ingredients with special function can be addedin those feedstuff, or into maggot (pupa) powder for increasing effect.It can be taken by the people who have to touch with the radiation orlive in the place where is polluted by radiation. Furthermore, theanimals feeding by the maggot, their meat and eggs can have the similarfunction too. The daily dose for adult is 0.3˜1.0 gram of pure maggot(pupa) powder Maggot can be carrier for some special ingredients byfeeding with relevant ingredient that human need, such as vitamins,minerals, electrolytes and antibiotic etc., so the rearing animals willbe the carrier for these relevant ingredients too by feeding with thosemaggot.

[0121] Russia and Korea has exploited maggot carrier, for example,maggot can contain enough antibiotic and trace element by rearing maggotwith relevant ingredient[20].

[0122] Merits of Rearing Maggot in Long Term Mission

[0123] 1. Recycle fully wastes of hu man/animals and inedible crop inspace by rearing maggot which will be nourishing feedstuff for feedinganimals, the animals and crop will be human food, it would achieve afood regenerative system with close loops in space.

[0124] 2. Maggot is a ideal food source for offering many kinds ofnutrition such as rich protein, fatty acid, amino acids, vitamins,minerals, electrolytes and many unknown nutrients. Combined with theanimals fed by maggot and crop, they can meet the most needs ofnutrition for human in long term space mission.

[0125] 3, With the storage technology of frozen fly eggs and animaleggs, oosperm and placenta, they can be frozen in liquid nitrogen forcryopreservation, could achieve safe and sufficient food source and foodingredient storage in long term mission.

[0126] 4, Maggot and feeding animals all have strong reproductionability, short cycle and high speed of growth. It is easy to rearcontinuously day % and night in high density to achieve the efficientand self-sufficient food production.

[0127] 5, Maggots seldom get disease. Rearing maggot and processing ofthe maggot powder are all pathogens free and chemicals free. Using it tofeed animals for human foods is safe, and does not produce harmfulsubstance to pollute environment.

[0128] 6, Rearing maggot and animals are all well developed technologywhich can be easily transferred to space application with less researchinvestment and time. To rear them only needs simple productionequipment, operation and technique. The food production, processing andstorage are all with little space, so that the cost of food production,processing, storage and waste recycling could be minimized.

What is claimed is:
 1. Rearing Fly Larvae (maggot) and fly pupa in spaceas space food sources for animals and human
 2. Rearing maggot in spaceas defined in claim 1, the human/animals waste (manure) and inediblecrop plants in space be fully recycled to regenerate nourishing maggotbiomass for animal feedstuff
 3. Rearing maggot as defined in claim 1,maggot can be carrier of some special ingredients by feeding maggot withrelevant ingredients that crew need, such as vitamins, minerals,electrolytes and antibiotic etc., so the rearing animals will be thecarrier for these relevant ingredients too by feeding with those maggot,the crew will get these relevant ingredients from these animal food. 4.Rearing maggot as space food source for animal as defined in claim 1,the enough fly eggs, animal eggs, oosperm and placenta be all broughtfrom earth, they were frozen in liquid nitrogen as the food source, andcan be warmed and hatched for rearing in space, thus achieve safe andsufficient food source and ingredient storage in long term missions. Theanimals could be reproduced by themselves in the space too. The flyrearing and reproduction could be a standby way for sudden case of flyeggs lost in long term mission.
 5. Rearing maggot in space as defined inclaim 1, when rearing maggot 3˜3.5 days (or rearing after 4 days tobecome pupa), the living maggot (or pupa) could be feedstuff for rearinganimals directly, or processing to be maggot powder (or pupa powder) forfrozen storage as animals feedstuff.
 6. Rearing maggot in space asdefined in claim 1, the maggot will be feedstuff for poultry, aquatic,amphibian, and livestock, these animal bodies and their eggs will be thenourishing food for human in space.
 7. Rearing maggot in space asdefined in claim 1, the residues after rearing maggot is odorless andstill rich of nutrients, it can be high grade fertilizer for cropplants, the CO₂ from maggot rearing, could supply to crop plants forgrowth requirement
 8. Rearing maggot as defined in claim 1, for thosefood crisis in space or on the earth, such as disaster in polaradventure, on the sea or in war, rearing maggot with self-manure couldbe a way of self-sufficient food production for life saving.
 9. Rearingmaggot and fly pupa as defined in claim 1, the maggot powder, pupapowder and the rearing animals feeding by maggot and pupa, can bemanufactured as healthy food for resisting radiation and improvingimmune ability, not only for human in space, also for human on the earthThe crop or animal internal organs could be feedstuff for rearing maggoton the earth, some herbal medicine and other ingredients with specialfunction can be added in those feedstuff, or in maggot (pupa) powder forincreasing effect The daily dose for adult is 0.3˜1.0 gram of puremaggot (pupa) powder